Transistor oscillator



' April 14, 1959 A. T. IRELAND TRANSISTOR oscILLAToR Filed'April 4, 195e INVENTOR. 51%

Arron/vm AndrewZ/relazzd TRANSISTOR OSCILLATOR Andrew T. Ireland, Falls Church, Va., assigner to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application April 4, 1956, serial No. 576,222

zo claims. (ci. 25o-s6) (Granted under '.[tle 35, UV.S. Code @1952), 4sec. 266)'A Theinvention describedI herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon. I

, The present invention relates to Athe generation ofoscillations and more particularly to an audio oscillator er'nploying a plurality of semi-conductive devices wherein either an A.C. or D.C. input control signal is applied to trigger the operation of the circuit. Such semi-conductive devices may be either the PNP or NPN junction or point contact type of transistors. The basic theory and operation of transistors has been described in textbooks and publications readily available to one skilled in the art and therefore need not be treated herein. The discussion .herein will therefore be limited to transistor operation only insofar as is necessary to describe the operation of the novel oscillator of the instantdisclosure.

It is well known that transistors will oscillate readily and that any transistor amplier can be made to oscillate by feeding a portion of its output energy through various arrangements of circuit components, back to the input circuit so that an in phase or positive feedback signal is obtained. It is also well known that transistors operate satisfactorily as oscillators with low power and are useful in many applications where their relatively low power output is satisfactory. Many circuit arrangements for tran# sistor oscillators are shown in the literature, including audio oscillators using a single transistor with either A.C. or D.C. input control signals.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel transistor audio oscillator, having a pair of either junctionv or point contact type transistors to which either au A.C. or D.C. input signal may be applied witliout regard to polarity of the input signal.

lt is a further object of the present invention to provide` an audio oscillator employing a pair of junction or point contact type transistors wherein when an A.C. input signal is applied said transistors will function alternately in accordance with the polarity of the A.C. input signal, the non-functioning transistor acting as a low value resistor in the feedback circuit.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an audio oscillator employing a pair of junction or point contact type transistors wherein when a D.C. input signal is applied the polarity of said D.C. input signal will selectively determine which one of said pair will function, the non-functioning one of said pair of transistors acting as a low value resistor in the feedback circuit. l l lt is a further object o'f the instant invention to provide an audio oscillator employing a' pair of junction or point contact type transistors 'wherein the pitch of the audio oscillations indicates the polarity or direction of the D.C. input signal applied. p

Alt is also an object of the present invention vto provide an audio oscillator employing a pair of junction or point contact type transistors wherein a variablepitchf output .maybe obtained from a single A.C. input signal.

' lt is a further object of the 4present invention to provide j fpill` `States Patent l 2,882,402 Patented Apr... V14, 195.9,

ice

a transistor oscillator employing a pair of transistors of similar configuration or complementary configuration to which either an A.C. or D.C. input signal may be applied for the selective control of the transistors in the oscillator.

These and other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdescription wherein- Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram of an audio oscillator employing a pair of junction type transistors havingsimilar configuration and coupled in base-to-base connection;

Fig. 2 is a circuit diagramof an audio oscillator employing a pair of junction type transistors having dissimilar configuration and direct-coupled in base-to-collector connection;

Eig. 3 is a circuit diagram equivalent to the audio oscillator of Fig. 1 and is representativeof the change effected in the circuit components of Fig. 1 when an A.C.' or D.C. input signal is applied; and j l Fig. 4 is acircuit diagram equivalent to the audio osf cilla'tor of Fig. 2 and is representative of the change eiected in the circuit components of Fig. 2 when an A.C. or D.C. input signal is applied.

Reference is now made to the audio oscillator in Fig. l wherein a pair of transistors shown generally at 1 and 2 are connected in a base-to-base relation. The letters c, e, and b as shown on the drawings are conventional and designate the collector, emitter, and base of a transistor, respectively. The terms rc, re and rb associated with the resistances as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 represent the total resistance associated with the collector, emitter, and base electrodes, respectively. The transistors 1 and 2 may be either of the point contact or junction type. When point contact type transistors are used the circuit constants must be changed to provide proper impedance matching between input and output circuits and inductance and ca pacity values since the electrical characteristics of point contact transistors diier from those of the junction type. When the latter are used both are either of the NPN or PNP configuration. Anvaudio transformer 3 provides positive in-phase feedback to sustain oscillation and must be properly poled. The transformer 3 should have a high turns ratio to match the high output resistance at the collector electrode to the low input resistance at the emitter electrode. An input signal source, which may be either A.C. as shown at 4a, or D.C. as represented by 4b, is connected to apply the input signal to the collector electrode of transistor 1. However, the input signal could be connected instead to the collector electrode of transistor 2, the effect of which on the operation ofthecircuit will be hereinafter described. A pair of earphones 5 or other indicating means, such as a meter, is used to provide an audible or visual indication. The frequency of the oscillations is determined by the electrical characteristics of the transistors, the inductance and capacitance of the windings of the audio transformer and the input signal impedance. If it is desired tofvary the frequency or select a particular frequency, a condenser, fixed or variable, may be connected across the primary or secondary or both windings of the audio transformer as shown at 6.

In operation, the input signal modulates the frequency of the audio oscillator as determined by the input signal impedance, transistors and the audio transformer. When an A.C. input signal is applied as shown in Fig. 1, the transistors 1 and 2 will function alternately on each half cycle, the non-functioning transistor acting asa low value resistor. The equivalent circuit under theselconditions, for example, for the connections shown in Eig. land when transistor 1 is functioning, is" shown in Fig.. 3. If transistors 1 and 2 each have diiferent values of impedance, the pitch of the audio oscillations on each half cycle will change depending upon which transistor is functioning. This feature permits determining the polarity 3. o'fra D C. input signal, since depending on the polarity, one or the other transistor will function and by the pitch of audio oscillations, the direction of current flow may be known. If a D.C. input signal of proper polarity is applie'd, for example, to transistor 1 as shown in Fig. 1, transistor'z, will act as a low value resistor as shown in the equivalent circuit in Fig. 3 and the pitch of the modulated audio oscillations will depend on the electrical characteristies of 'transistor 1, the audio transformer windings, and the input signal impedance. Ifthe polarity of the D C. "inputsignal is reversed, transistor 2 will function and transistor 1 will act as a low value resistor, the reverse ofthe circuit shown in Fig. 3f, and the pitch of the modulated laudio oscillations will'derieiid on'ithe electrical characteristies'of "transistor'2, the windings lofthe audio transformer, and the input signal impedance. i

' 'one speei'emiiit ftuejc'ir'c'iiithswn in rig. i employed two Western Electric 2N2? transistorsand a g. anoiit# "SSO3` transistoraulid'transforiner hay p put impedance of 25,000'hins. Vfrequeiieyof' audio oscillations lwhich may be obtainedrom anlarr'angernent ser Figfi wiii fangefrom' 11000 52u00 eyeie's per tcond Without benefit of any frequency determiningcomponents other than the audio transformer. This HVaudio oscillator Voperated satisfactorily when triggered by 10 to 30 cycle alternating current having vpeak values as low as 0.1-5` volt and power aslow as 3A microwatt. l

Another embodiment employingfthe novel features of the instant invention is represented in the circuity diagram shown in Fig. 2 wherein two junction type transistors 'of dissimilar conliguration, one NPN `and orieflllli", areiised. A gain, if PNP and NPN typetransistors such as and`8, with dilferent input and outputimpedjances are used, differences in pitchof the modulated audio oscillations restili. Thus, when D.C. input signals are appliedto the collector electrode, an indication' may vbe obtained by the difference in pitc as to the polarity of the D. input signal. Ihe frequency of the audiooscillations'may also be selected, as in thecircuit ofFig. 1, by addition of `capacitance across the windings of transformert) as at 11. The circuit components in this embodiment yare similar to those usedirithe embodimentof.Figi` Al. A signal input source which may be `ALC. as at 9alor.D.,C. asrepref sented at 9b, is applied to the collectorhelectrode of transistor '7, a PNP junction type to modulate the audiooscb lations. The base electrode of the PNP` transistor 7 is connected totlemcollector.electrode of; the NPN tranf Ss t r8 NPNtypeftransistrsmay. be employed, as. in Fig. 2, to utilize thev opposite action o f the two types. The direct coiiplingisenabled by thefactthat an increasing collectonciirrentof transistor 8 and therefore an increas ing base c urrentiri transistor 7` causes, decreasing Acollector current in 'transistor 7 and `vice versa.

Whilet'he circuits of Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4 show oscillators einployingan audio transformer, it is to.be.understood that' `tlie novel circuit arrangement may. also be practiced in connection With radio-frequency..oscillators. The onlychangerequired would be tosubstitute anv aircore inductanceorair-coretransformer instead ofrthe 1ro n ,co re transformer or 1Q in Figs. l and 2, respectively,v Feedback wouldbe provided through. such air-core inductange or the, primary winding ofthe airfcore transfprmer; The? OPPFI? Qf the. oscillatorrould be. coupled input .o far 1 .`arnp l i eror vother load.v byany.of.the orial methods .of'couplng yradio.-fi'eriuency. energy areQwell tothpse, skilled, iritheart.

AsisvveltI known, any transistorlarnplier .can be made is. OSS-insta BY "fesdilbaslsfa IParti@ @reihe output to tl i e ir ipntci rcuitin proper phaseY Theainplifying .properties f transistors stemjrornithe factfthatuthey. have low input and output irnpedances.'l The'transistorl is basically a curren't operteddevice and operates as afcur# e complementary characteristics, of the` PNP.. and

4 rent amphsr and prefers, a, Calista-1t entreat raiser. supply.

ln transistors, the emitter electrode when D C. biased for forwarded current ow, effectively injects or emits current carriers, electrons or holes (positive charges) into the center base region. Thek collector, when D.C. biased for reverse current iiow, apparently collects current carriers, clectronsor holes, which then increase the reverse current. In NPN transistors, as shown in the iigures in the drawing, the injected carriersv are electrons from the N-type emitter layer; in the PNP-type, they are. holes from the P-type emitter layer. The movement of these injected electrons vor holes through the solid body of a semiconductor, such asa transistor,v constitutes a current flow which. can be modulated by a signal voltage. In a transistor, vsignal energy is'required to Vmodulate the injection of current carriers into the base region, electrons in the case of NPN types such as Fig. 1 and transistor 8 in Figf 4and 'holes iu the of-fPN-Pftype :such as at 7 inFig'.

In Fig. l` with. NPN type transistors, the N-typc emitter injects 4electrons into the b'a'se region which are attracted to the* collector. 'When the. A.C. signal applied to the collector ofltransistor 1 is positive, the flow or drift of electrons is increased, andwhen the signal is negative, the drift is reduedj the signal energy modulates` the injection of carriers to modulate the carrier current. When the current is increased in transistor 1, suicient output is availableto provide feedbaclthroughthe audio transformer 3 to sustainoscillation of-transistor 1. Itv may be necessary to reverse'the terminals ofthe secondary of the audioftra'nsformer 'to obtainlproper polarity for positive feedback.' nWhen the currentdlow through transistor 1 is increased on the positive half cycle the current ow throughthe 'base' of transistor 1 increases and since transistors v*1' and-2 areconnected base-to-base, the current inthe base electrode of transistor 2 will be increased in a direction to oppose the ilovvv of electrons from the emitter to the Acollector in transistor 2, since such current ilow consists ofele'ctrons and follows the, low impedance path through the emitterelectrode and through the audio transfori-nerI primary. Since current flow in the transformer is suchv as to'provide feedback to transistor 1 only during` the positive portion ofjacycle, audio oscillations will be produced` onlyby transistor 1 and be modulated by the applied signal. The reversal' of the applied signal to the collector electrode'has the eifect of applying a bias for forwarduoij nreverse current Upon reversal of the cyclefoffthe applied `s ignal 'o n the negative half, the collector electrode of transistor 1 being negative, the flow of electrons4 from the emitter is reduced and the base Crrjntis 'agded- Sieseffh? transistors 1' and 2 are conneeted base-to-base, the reduction in base current in transistorv 1 results in areduced base. current in transistor 2 and anincreasedcurrentfrom the emitter electrode to the collector-:electrode of transistor 2 which causes trausistor 2 to function whereas transistor 1 is not functioning. The functioning of` transistor 2 causes currentI to ow in a direction intransformer 31 so as tol apply in phase feedbaci; to/tr'ansistor 2 toysnstain oscillation which is modulatedby thesgnal input. It isy seen that as the cycle of the AQ. input signalalternates, the` functioningof transistorsgl and2 alternates.

Wh a D-Ci irput Signal is implied te, the cirutsf Fis.- lniliftliesvlleswrlestrods faftransstor 1 'is negauneven iid. the thf '01119 will. sbtslsw valve resistor asshown in the example in Fig. `3.` The circuit thusmay be used as a polarity indicator.

In the circuit shown inFig. a PNP and NPN junction type transistorare directly coupled. In PNP type trarify si's'tors thefP-type. `ei 1 iitter ..injec;ts holes (positive charges) into the base regitmvvhiclraruey attracted` by a strong negative field t9 th@ collector. When the A.Cl input signal is on thewpositive half cycle, the ow or drift of holes to -the collector is decreased and the current owing in 4the base electrode of transistor 7 is decreased, which due to the direct connection causes a decreasedvcurrent. ow (electrons) in the collector electrode of NPN type transistor 8. With this decreased electron ow in the collector of transistor 8, electrons are attracted to the collector of this NPN transistor and current ilow in the oscillator circuit is through the low impedance emitter electrode and through the primary of the audio transformer. If vthe transformer is properly poled for in phase feedback, energy is applied to transistor 8 to sustain oscillation. On the negative portion of the cycle, transistor 7 collector attracts holes or positive carriers from the emitterv and current (electrons) are increased in the base electrode o f tranjsistor 7. lDue to direct coupling the electron flow in the collector of transistor 8 is increased opposing the ow of electrons from the emitter through-the baseregion to the. collector of this transistor which -theref ore is nonfunctioning. Since the external circuit current ow is now reversed, yin phase feedback is applied to transistor 7 to'sustain oscillation which is modulated by the A.C. input signal. It is seen that as the cyclereverses, alternate functioning of the transistors takes place.

If a D.C. input signal is applied, depending on the direction of polarity, one or the other transistor, 7 or 8, will function, based on the operation as outlined in detail for an A.C. signal above. Here again the polarity of the input signal may be determined by which transistor is functioning. Equivalent circuits in which the non-functioning transistors 2 and 8 are shown as an equivalent low resistance network are illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, respectively. If transistors 2 and 8 are functioning, then transistors 1 and 7 would be represented by an equivalent low resistance network.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An oscillator comprising a plurality of semi-conductive devices electrically interconnected for interdependent operation, means connecting the outputs of said plurality of semi-conductive devices to the inputs thereof for supplying a portion of the output energy of said semi-conductive devices to the inputs thereof, a signal input source and signaling means serially connected in the output of one of said plurality of interconnected semi-conductive devices, "said signal input source selectively controlling the operation of said semi-conductive devices by the polarity of the input signal and simultaneously modulating the oscillations produced by said devices, said signaling meansy being responsive, to the modulated oscillations produced by s aid semi-conductive devices.

A2. An oscillator comprising a rst and a second transistor each including a base electrode, said irst and second transistors being connected in base-to-base relation, reactance means coupling the output of said rst and second transistors to the inputs thereof for supplying a portion or the output energy of said transistors to the inputs thereof in proper phase relation to sustain oscillation of said transistors, means connected to said reactance means for determining the frequency of oscillation of said transistors, a signal input source and signaling means serially connected in the output circuit of a first one of said transistors for selectively controlling the operation of said rst and second transistors by the polarity of the input signal and simultaneously modulating the oscillations produced by said devices, said signaling means connected to said rst and second transistors being responsive to the modulated oscillations produced by said first and second transistors.

3. An oscillator comprising first and second transistors each having a base, an emitter and a collector electrode, the base electrodes of said first and second transistors being interconnected, feedback means electrically coupling the emitter electrodes to the collector electrodes of said rst and second transistors for selectively returning a portion ofthe output energy of said first and second transistors to the inputs thereof in proper phase re.- lation to sustain oscillation, means connected to said feedback means for determining the frequency of oscillations of said rst and second transistors, a signal input source and signaling means serially connected between the collector electrode of said first transistor and the portion of said feedback means connected to said collector electrodes, said signal input source selectively controlling the operation of said first and second transistors bythe polarity of the input signal and simultaneously modulating the oscillations produced by said irst and 'second transistors, said signaling means being responsive to the modulated oscillations produced by said first and second transistors.

4. An oscillator comprising first and second transistors eachhaving a base, an emitter and a collector electrode, the b ase electrode of said rst transistor connected directly A to the base electrode of said second transistor, transformer meansv having primary and secondary windings electrically coupling the emitter electrodes of said rfst and second transistors to the collector electrodes thereof for selectively returning a portion of the output energy of said first and second transistors to the inputs thereof in proper phase relation to sustain oscillation, the primary winding of said transformer being connected between the emitter electrodes and the secondary winding being connected between the collector electrodes of `said first and second transistors, capacitor means connected to the primary and secondary windings of said transformer for determining the frequency of oscillations of said rst and second transistors, an alternating current signal input source connected between the collector electrode of said first transistor and the secondary winding of said transformer for alternately controlling the oscillation of said first and second transistor by the changing polarity of the input signal and simultaneously modulating the oscillations produced by said first and second transistors and means serially connected vbetween said input signal source and the secondary winding of said transformer responsive to the modulated oscillations produced by said rst and second transistors.

5. An oscillator as recited in claim 4 wherein said capacitor means is connected in series with each of the windings of said transformer.

6. An oscillator as recited in claim 4 wherein said capacitor means is connected in shunt with each of the windings of said transformer.

7. An oscillator as recited in claim 4 wherein said irst andsecond transistors have mutually distinct impedance characteristics whereby the pitch of the modulated oscillations produced'will be mutually distinct.

8; An oscillator as' recited in claim 4 wherein each of said-first and second transistors'are of the NPN junction type configuration.

9. An oscillator as recited in claim 4 wherein each of said first and second transistors are of the PNP junction type configuration.

l0. An oscillator as recited in claim 4 wherein each of said irst and second transistors are of the point contact type conguration.

ll. An oscillator comprising first and second transistors each having a base, an emitter and a collector electrode, the base electrode of said rst transistor being connected directly to the base electrode of said second transistor, the emitter and collector electrode of said rst transistor being electrically connected through coupling means to corresponding electrodes of said second transistor for returning a portion of the output of said iirst and second transistors to the inputs thereof to sustain oscillation, a direct current signal source connected between the collector electrode of said first transistor and the portion of said coupling means connected to the collector electrode of said second transistor, said input signal source selectively controlling the oscillations of said 7 rst ood. t'soogoiitl 'transistors by this polarity ofi- 'thoiooitt stessi sod. oisans rssroiisiys toosoiliotioos Pirodoood 'by said selectively controlled f irst and 'second transistors.

12. An oscillato` ecited inl claim 1l wherein said rst and second transistors 'have mutually differing impedance characteristics whereby a 'ditererice in pitch of the osoillstioos will. be. prodiiosti by said solsotiyly oootrolled first and second transistors.

13. An` oscillator comprising a pair of transistors-each having a base, an emitter and a collector eleClOde. the base electrode of a first one ofsaidfpair of transistors connected directly to the collector .electrode of a second `one of saidI pair o f transistors, means electrically coupling the emitter electrodes of 's'aid pair of transistors to ih o tollsotor oisttrotio. ot said first. ooo, of said. Pais? of transistors orio. this boss siootfodo of said. 'so'oloiid ons of sidjroir of. transistors for soisotiyiyrstiiroioa o Portion oi tho output, oosrsy of 'soid first sotlsso'ooii treo tho iiiriitsths tio .oropisroilaso relation. to. sostsio. os- 'oifllstio'ii o signal ioputsoiiioo' oooiisotsd ostiysii tho, ooilootor 'elettrodo of said. first 'ooo of "saisi, Pair 'of traiisistofs. sod o Portion oissid ooiioiiog moons. for Asloiiysly oootrolling the oscillation of said pair vi' transistorsfby the direction olgpolarity of said signal source and simultaneously modulating the oscillations produced by said nfirst and second transistors,reactance meansA connected to said coupling means -forsdetermining the frequency of oscillation of said pair of transistors and-means'connected between said input signal source and said portion of said coupling ymeans responsive to the modulated oscillations produced by said pair of transistors.

14, An oscillator comprising a'pair of transistors "each having a base, an emitter and a collector electrode, the base electrode of a rst one of said pair of transistors connected directly to the collector electrode of a second one of saidpair of transistors, transformer means having primary and secondary windings electrically coupling the emitter yelecvst-rodes of said pair of transistors to the collector electrode ofsaid first lone ofrsaid pair of transistors and the base electrode of said second one of said pair of transistors forl selectively returning a portion ofthe outputenergy of said first and second transistors tothe inputs thereof in'properphase relation -to sustain oscillation, the primary winding, of said transformer being connected bea tween the emitter electrodes of'said pair of transistors and the secondary winding `being connected between the collector electrode of said first vone of said pair of transistors and the base electrode of said second one of said pair of transistors, `capacitor means connected. to the vprimary 'andy secondary'windings kof saidtransformer for determi-ning the frequency 'of oscillations of said'iirst and second transistors., an` alternating current signal input source. connected between the collector electrode, of said first of said pair of.` transistors. and the. secondary wind-y iris 'of ssititfaostooror.- for sitslriisitoiy Controlling die os'oiiiotioo. 'of .'jt'ist and'ssoood transistors by the changingY polarity 'of the input signal and simultaneously'iiio-tiiiiatios1thoosoilitioiis produced by said alfornately controlled -first and 'second' transistors and means serially connected l`between said input signal source and the secondary winding of said transformer responsive to the modulated oscillations produced by said rst and second transistors.

15. An oscillator as recited in claim 14 wherein said capacitor `meansis 'connected in series with each of the windings of said transformer.

16. An oscillator as recited in claim 14 wherein said capacitor meansv vis connected in 'shunt with each ofthe windings ottsaid'transormer.

1K7. An oscillator as 1Secited=`in cla-im 14 wherein said pair of transistors ,have complementary k :ha'ra'cteristics and mutuallydiffer-ingT impedance characteristics whereby the pi-tch 'of thenrodulated Yoscillations produced will be mutually di'stin'ct.

Y1 (8. An oscillator as recited Iin claim 14. wherein said first one or saidvpair. of transistors is a PNR type junes tion. transistor. and said second oneof said pairis an NPN type junction transistor.

1.9. An. oscillator as recited in claim 14; wherein said pair of transistors are of the point contact configuration, 20. An oscillator comprising. first and second vtransistors each having a'base, van emitter and. aA collector electrede, the baseelectrode of said tirst transistor connected directly'. `to the collector electrode 'ot said second transistor, means-electrically couplingthe, emitter electrodes of said first and second transistors to the collector electrede Of said first .transistor andthe base electrode of.y said second transistorfor'returning a vportion of the. output of said first and second transistors to the inputs thereof to sustain, oscillation, a direct oiifroot. signal. sou-roo ooonootod botwoonthe ooilootor electrodo; ofv seidv first troosistor arid the. portion. of soi-iii coupling moans ooiooootod to tho. base. oiootrods of sois-i second: transistor, said input signal source selectively controlling thev os'tzillavtiousy of said rst. ooo second. transistors by tho Polarity of tbs input signal. ooo mocos rospoosiyo. to osoillotioris -prodiiood. by said. ssisotiyoly Controlled first and sooond transistors- Rsforoiioositod iii tho filo ot this Potent r-JNrrnD4 srArns Parents 

